Bikram yoga was started by Bikram Choudhury in San Francisco in 1972. It consists of 90-minute classes that follow a set 26 yoga poses done in the same order in a 105 degree heated room. Bikram is said to promote health, strength and healing. To become a Bikram yoga instructor, you will first need to be a dedicated Bikram yoga student and then follow these steps to become a certified instructor.

Be a Student

The first thing you should do to become a Bikram yoga instructor is to become a dedicated student of the practice. Bikram yoga is not for everyone so you should be sure you really enjoy it before embarking on your new career path. Most instructors recommend serious students practice as often as possible, with six days per week being ideal. Bikram yoga has become vastly popular in recent years and classes can be found in most cities.

Find a School

If you are interested in becoming a Bikram instructor, you can look online for instructor training programs to apply to (www.bikramyoga.com). Register early for training because the classes fill up; often early sign-up prices are lower than the regular prices. Regular prices can be in the thousands. Many training programs are held in places like California or Hawaii, so be prepared to spend the money needed, as well as travel.

Study

Bikram training includes various topics, including benefits of poses, therapeutic application, asanas (poses), alignment, nutrition, and human anatomy and physiology. Bikram instructor training programs consist of nine weeks of study and 500 hours of coursework. The program will also include a lot of Bikram classes. You should be prepared to dedicate the necessary time to learning the course materials and completing the training prior to enrollment.

Find Work

When you are ready to start working as a Bikram instructor, you should network to find clients. Reach out to your local yoga studio, gym, health club or YMCA to see if they have any openings. As you build a following, you can try teaching private clients. You can typically earn you more money with private clients because you will not need to split your earnings with a yoga studio or health club. You may need to travel to a new city to find work as a Bikram instructor since it is a very specific form of yoga.

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About the Author

Gabrielle Nicolet has been writing and editing professionally since 2004. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University. Nicolet is also a certified nutrition, wellness and weight-management consultant with American Fitness Professionals and Associates.